The Charlotte Mason method includes handicraft in the weekly work, but not just as a side hobby. Do you know that she recommends even adjusting the weekly reading requirements in order to include \u201cone to two hours weekly for physical training and handicrafts\u201d?\u00a0<\/p>
I admit, sometimes it\u2019s easy for us to let handicraft slide, thinking that it\u2019s not \u201cas important\u201d as all the other book learning! I stand corrected. Miss Mason believes in the value of handicraft, as you can see in the following quote: <\/p>
Again, we know that the human hand is a wonderful and exquisite instrument to be used in a hundred movements exacting delicacy, direction and force; every such movement is a cause of joy as it leads to the pleasure of execution and the triumph of success. We begin to understand this and make some efforts to train the young in the deft handling of tools and the practice of handicrafts. Some day, perhaps, we shall see apprenticeship to trades revived, and <\/em>good and beautiful work enforced<\/em><\/strong>. In so far, we are laying ourselves out to secure that each shall “live his life”; and that, not at his neighbour’s expense; because, so wonderful is the economy of the world that when a man really lives his life he benefits his neighbour as well as himself; we all thrive in the well-being of each.\u00a0(Vol 6 page 328)\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>